Filtration device for a waste water treatment system

ABSTRACT

A filter and housing for waste water treatment includes a housing having a plurality of coaxially mounted vertically extending sections adaptable to receive a filter cartridge therein. An upper section is provided with an outlet consisting of at least two coaxially aligned rings of preselected diameters wherein the thickness of the rings and the spacing between the rings is sufficient to receive waste water treatment outlets of different diameters. The filter cartridge is comprised of a stacked arrangement of a plurality of disc-dam units wherein each disc-dam unit is provided with a serpentine configured first dam, the first dam extending upwardly from an upper surface of the disc-dam unit, the first dam having terminating ends spaced at outer terminating edges of the disc dam unit to define a cord segment therebetween. The terminating ends are connected by a second dam having a height less than the first dam. The serpentine configured first dam divides the disc-dam unit into an upstream side along the outer periphery and a downstream side along the inner periphery. Slots are positioned within the serpentine configured dam on the upstream side thereby providing flow communication with underlying disc-dam units. The top of the first dam is of a preselected height so as to provide a preselected spacing between the top of the first dam and the under surface of an overlying disc-dam unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a filter and filter housing for use ina waste water treatment system and more particularly relates to asectionalized filter housing having capability of receiving filtercartridges of various lengths and is adaptable for connecting to watertreatment tank outlet pipes of varying diameters.

In the treatment of waste water, particularly in septic tanks, it iscommon to install filters to remove particulates being discharged fromthe tank which are generally undigested solids so that the dischargingeffluent is a relatively colorless and harmless liquid. There have beena number of filter units designed over the years for the removal ofthese undigested solids from the waste water prior to discharge from aseptic tank or the like. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,900,084;3,332,552; and, 4,710,295 to Robert Zabel teach a waste water treatmentfiltration system which includes a plurality of disc-dam units disposedin a stack, vertically spaced, in a super-imposed relationship such thatthe bottom of each overlying disc-dam unit cooperates with the upperedges of each underlying unit to form a horizontally elongatedvertically narrow outlet slots. The stack of disc-dam units are mountedin a cylindrical housing with several slots located above and severalslots located below the liquid operating level in a waste water tank. Inoperation, the digested waste water is received through a bottom openingof the housing and the discharging clarified effluent flows through asidewall outlet which is in flow communication with an outlet from thewaste water tank. However, it has been found that septic tanks or wastewater treatment tanks come in different sizes and capacities and alsothe outlet discharge from the waste water tank is not of a standardsize. Thus, for residential and commercial applications it is difficultto provide a filter housing unit of varying filtration capacities andwith discharge outlets adaptable to mate with the various sizes ofoutlet discharge pipes or conduits from the waste water treatment tank.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a filter housing fora waste water treatment tank that includes a plurality of verticallyextending interchangeable sections which allows for the design of afilter housing providing for a filtration system of different filteringcapacities.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a filterhousing have an outlet which is adaptable for mating with waste watertreatment tank outlets of different sizes.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a filterhousing which is relatively inexpensive and easy to install.

It is even a further object of the present invention to provide a filtercartridge of disc-dam filter units in a filter housing that reducesturbulence during the upflow of waste water in the cartridge.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a filtercartridge of disc-dam filter units wherein the discs have a diameter ofless than ⅛″ of the inside diameter of the filter housing.

More particularly, the present invention provides a filter and a housingfor a waste water treatment system wherein the housing includes at leastan upper section with an outlet for flow communication with a wastewater treatment tank discharge outlet and a lower section with an openbottom to receive upward flow therethrough. The upper section is mountedabove the lower section and there may be a plurality of middle sectionsmounted between the upper section and the lower section to accommodatefilter cartridges of various lengths. Each of the sections of thehousing include means to receive a plurality of disc-dam units therein.The plurality of disc-dam units in a stack arrangement define the filtercartridge with a longitudinally extending axis. Each of the disc-damunits is of a generally circular-shaped disc having an outer terminatingedge, the base portion of each unit having a planar under surface and anupper surface with a first dam of serpentine configuration having afirst and second terminating end. The dam which extends upwards from theupper surface of the base portion terminates in a dam top whereby apreselected distance is defined between the dam top and the undersurface of an overlying disc. The first end and the second end of thedam define a cord segment therebetween, the dam dividing the baseportion into an upstream and downstream side, the upstream side beingalong an outer periphery of the base portion and the downstream sidebeing along an inner periphery of the base portion. The cord segmentprovides a cut out which extends from a second dam which connects thefirst and second ends of the outer terminating edge of the first damwherein the second dam has a height less than the height of the firstdam. Moreover, each of the discs are provided with a plurality ofupstream openings in the upstream side of the base portion which are inflow communication with an adjacent underlying disc-dam unit. The flowthrough openings are generally positioned within the serpentineconfigured dam. The cut-outs of each disc are aligned to form an outletflow chamber which is in flow communication with an outlet waste watertreatment tank discharge outlet.

The lower section of the housing is provided with an inwardly extendingsealing edge positioned for alignment with the disc-dam unit cut outs.The sealing edge is in contacting relation with the lowermost disc-damunit wherein the sealing edge covers the cut out of the lowermostdisc-dam unit thereby sealing the bottom of the outlet flow chamber fromthe incoming waste water to be filtered.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the invention will be had upon reference tothe following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawingsin which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several viewsand wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with selected portions shown exploded, ofa preferred filter and housing of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of one preferred disc-dam unit of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of another disc-dam unit of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of a lid for the filter cartridge of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, in section, of the arrangement shownin FIG. 1 in assembled form;

FIG. 4A is an enlarged segmental view showing a method of operation ofthe filter assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4B is an enlarged segmental view of the orientation of the discs ofthe present invention received within the lower section of the housing,as shown in an assembled unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a lower section of the filter housingof FIG. 1;

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of a middle section of the filter housingof FIG. 1 with selected portions shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 5C is a perspective view of an upper section of the filter housingof FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 6 is a view of the arrangement of the filter housing assembly shownin FIG. 1 in a waste water treatment tank.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIG. 1, which is an exploded perspective view of onepreferred embodiment of the present invention, a filter housing 10includes a plurality of sections mounted one on top of the other. Asshown, the filter housing 10 is provided with an upper section 12mounted above and onto a middle section 14 which, in turn, is mountedabove and onto a lower section 16. Each of the sections are of the samediameter and are made of any suitable material, such as a thermo-plasticmaterial, which is well known in the art. An outlet discharge isprovided on the upper section and is generally comprised of a pluralityof outwardly extending co-axial rings, such as first and second rings 20and 22, of a preselected size and thickness so that the outlet dischargefrom the upper section 12 can receive in a male or female arrangement aplurality of waste treatment discharge outlets of different diameters.The first ring 20 circumscribing the second ring 22, and the first ring20 having an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the secondring 22, as in FIG. 3. Even though two rings 20 and 22 are shown, it isrealized that additional rings may be provided at the outlet from theupper section 12 to accommodate even a larger number of waste watertreatment outlets.

Within the filter housing sections 12, 14, 16, a plurality of disc-damunits 32 are in a vertically spaced arrangement, as best shown in FIG.3. A filter cartridge is comprised of a plurality of filter discs ordisc-dam units 32 of generally circular cross section with a cut outcord section which is defined by a dam 46 which connects withterminating edges 34 a and 34 b of a serpentine configured dam 36 andthe inner surface of the sections of the housing, such as upper section12 as shown in FIG. 1. Each disc-dam unit is in parallel with overlyingand underlying discs 32 with interlocking connectors 50 wherein theconnectors 50 are of preselected configuration to provide a spacebetween the dam top 44, and the under surface 42 of an overlying disc32, as best shown in FIG. 3. The disc 32 is generally made of a suitablematerial, such as a thermo-plastic material. Also, discs 32 have adiameter as close as possible to the inside diameter of the housingsections 12, 14, 16 as practical. The discs 32 diameter are generallywithin ⅛″ of the inside diameter of housing sections 12, 14, 16 toprevent upflow of solids along the outer periphery of the filtercartridge.

As shown in FIG. 2A, a disc-dam unit 32 comprises an elongated over-flowdam 36 which extends from one of the edges identified as 34 a or 34 b tothe other terminating edge 34 a or 34 b in a serpentine or sinuous pathon the upper surface 40 of the disc 32. The dam 36 extends verticallyupward a preselected distance and in a stacked arrangement defines aspacing between the top 44 of the dam 36 and the under surface 42 of theoverlying disc 32. On one side of the dam 36 is an upstream portionwhich receives upwardly flowing non-filtered material through elongatedslots 38 which are generally located within the curved portion of thesinuous path of the dam 36. Positioning the inlet slots 38 in the curvedportion of the sinuous path provides an upwardly flowing flow path thatis not subjected to turbulence as it flows vertically and over the top44 of the dam 36 and into the downstream side which is defined by theinner periphery of the sinuous path of the dam 36. The outer peripheryof the disc 32 and the outer surface of the dam 36 define the upstreamportion. The serpentine configured dam 36 terminates with a terminatingedge 34 a at one end and with a terminating edge 34 b at an opposed end.The terminating edges 34 a and 34 b are connected by a second or outletdam 46 wherein the outlet dam is of a height less than the height of theserpentine configured dam 36. Thus, the flow of filtered fluid from thedownstream side or inner portion of the disc overflows the dam 46 andinto an outlet chamber 28 located adjacent an outer side of said filtercartridge which is defined by the stacked arrangement of the discs 32and the dam 46 terminating edges 34 a and 34 b in sealing relation withseal members 24 a, 24 b, 24 c, as shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C. Thisarrangement defines the outlet flow chamber 28 for receiving thefiltered waste water from the filter cartridge. The chamber 28 is inflow communication with the outlet 19 from the waste water treatmenttank (FIG. 6). Centrally located in each of the discs is an opening 48to receive a support pipe 60 (FIG. 3) therethrough.

The discs 32 are also provided with notches 52 for engaging with lobes54 a, 54 b, and 54 c, of the filter sections 12, 14 and 16 (FIGS. 5A, 5Band 5C). The lobes 54 a, 54 b, and 54 c, and the pipe 60 on which thedisc-dam units 32 are mounted, in alignment with the interlockingconnectors 50, provide for an easy assembly in stable relationshipbetween the plurality of the disc-dams units 32 making up the filtercartridge in a use condition.

FIG. 2B shows a modification of the disc-dam unit 32 wherein thedisc-dam unit in FIG. 2B is identified by the numeral 132 and the onlydifference is the cut out segment 134. In particular, disc-dam unit 132is generally positioned in the upper portion of the upper section 12 forreceipt of a level alarm, level indicating device, or the like, whichmay be placed within the incoming discharge waste water into the filtercartridge. When a level indicator, level control, level alarm, or thelike, is utilized, the top plate, as shown in FIG. 2C, is utilized asthe top disc of a filter cartridge. This disc, identified by numeral232, is provided with a planar surface 240 with an opening 248 thereinto receive the pipe 60 therethrough. Notches 252 are provided forengagement with the lobes 54 c, particularly in the upper section 12.Connectors 250 are also provided for alignment and inner connecting withthe disc 232 and an underlying disc 132. Moreover, cut-outs 234 a and234 b are provided for alignment with terminating edges 34 a and 34 b ofthe discs 32 and 132 and are received by the sealing members 24 c in theupper filter housing section 12. Cut-outs 236 and 238 are also providedin case of an overflow so that the disc 232 does not have an overflow ofwaste water in case the liquid level exceeds the top of the filtercartridge.

Upwardly extending coupling 254 is provided to receive the levelcontrol, level alarm, level indicating means and the like. The coupling254 is in alignment with the cut-out 134 in the disc 132.

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C show the details of the three different sectionswhich make up the housing of the filter housing 10. Each of the housingsections 12, 14 and 16 have means to connect to one another in astacking arrangement. In a preferred embodiment, at least an uppersection 12 is mounted to a lower section 16. For units which requirefilter cartridges longer than the filter cartridge which can be arrangedin a spaced stacked arrangement in the two sections 12 and 16, middlefilter housing sections 14 are provided; and, any number of sections 14may be added to the stacking arrangement and is only defined by thevertical height of the filter cartridge as desired by the user.

In FIG. 5A, the lower section 16 is provided with an inwardly extendingsealing edge 17 adjacent a bottom end of the outlet flow chamber 28,which, as shown in FIG. 4B, receives the second dam 46 thereon toprevent the flow or the intermingling of filtered effluent in thechamber 28 with the incoming waste water flowing upwards through theopening 119, thereby the sealing edge 17 covering and sealing the bottomend of the outlet flow chamber 28. The lower section 16 is provided withlobes 54 c which are for alignment with lobes 54 b in lower section 14and lobes 54 a in the upper section 12. The upper portion of the lowersection 16 is provided with an inwardly extending step 16 b whichreceives the lower terminating edge 14 a of the middle section 14 or thelower terminating edge 12 a of the upper section 12. The lowerterminating edges 12 a and 14 a are of a reduced diameter from thediameter of the exposed outer surface of the remainder of housingportions 12 and 14, respectively. Moreover, the vertical height of thelower terminating edges 12 a and 14 a are the same distance as thedistance of the upper terminating edge 16 a from section 16 from step 16d. And, in a stacked arrangement the outside or exposed outer surface ofthe diameter of the housing is of the same diameter from the uppersection to the lower section.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the middle section is provided with lobes 54 bwhich are for alignment with the lobes 54 c and 54 a and the sealmembers 24 b which extend vertically along the inner surface of thecylindrical housing section. As shown in the cut-out, middle housingsection 14 is provided with a step 14 b which is a preselected distancefrom the terminating edge 14 c to receive the lower terminating edge 14a of a middle filter housing section 14 or the lower terminating edge 12a of an upper housing section 12.

As shown in FIG. 5C, an upper section 12 is provided with the outlet 18which is comprised of a plurality of rings 20 and 22 to attach to awaste water treatment tank outlet 14. Upper section 12 is also providedwith lobes 54 a for alignment with lobes 54 b and 54 c and engagementwith the cut-outs 52 in the discs 32, 132. Sealing members 24 a are alsoprovided for engagement with the terminating edges 34 a and b of thedisc 32.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B and 6, waste water enters thewaste water treatment tank 2 through a waste water inlet 8. Tank 2generally includes at least one or more openings therein identified bythe numeral 4 with a cover 6 thereover which provide for entrance to thetank. At least one opening 4 is shown in alignment with a filter housing10 for easy removal of the sections 12, 14, 16 or discs 32 in filterhousing 10. The waste water entering the tank 2 fills until the level 9is reached which is in alignment with the waste water discharge outlet19. The flow of the waste water is up through the lower filter section16 and is discharged through the outlet 18 in the upper section 12. Asthe waste water discharge flows into the filter housing through theopening 119, the waste water, as shown by the arrows, moves upwardlyadjacent to the central portion of the cartridge unit through theslotted openings 38 in the discs 32. The waste water flowing upwardsthrough the slots 38 provides for the settling of the particles, whichflow downwardly through the slots 38, as the rising waste water movesupwardly through the slots 38 and over flows the top edges 44 of thedams 36. Spacing between the top edge 44 and the under surface 42 of anoverlying disc 32 is of a preselected distance, generally less than an⅛″, so that only very small particles have the opportunity to overflowthe top edge 44. Overflowing waste water is filtered at the selectedspacing between the under surface 42 and the top edge of the underlyingdam top 44 so that relatively clean water exits, into the chamber 28 andout through the outlet discharge 19. By arranging the slots 38 in thecurvature of the serpentine configured dam 36 there is little to noturbulence and the turbulence is minimized at the dam top 44 overflow.Also, it has been found that this reduced turbulence promotes “sluffing”at the interior column because of this lack of turbulence created by thewater moving across the upstream surface of the disc as the dynamics ofthe water is flowing in a vertical condition and not in a vertical andhorizontal condition.

The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness ofunderstanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understoodtherefrom for modifications will become obvious to those skilled in theart upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing fromthe spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A filter housing and a filter cartridgecomprising: an upper section with an outlet for flow communication witha waste water treatment tank discharge outlet and a lower section withan open bottom, said upper section being coaxially mounted above saidlower section, said upper section and said lower section receiving saidfilter cartridge therein, said upper section having at least twooutwardly extending co-axial rings of different diameters, said co-axialrings comprising a first ring circumscribing a second ring, the firstring having an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of saidsecond ring, said rings disposed to receive one of a plurality of wastewater treatment discharge outlets of different diameters; and said lowersection having an inwardly extending sealing edge positioned adjacent abottom end of an outlet flow chamber, said outlet flow chamber locatedadjacent an outer side of said filter cartridge, said sealing edge beingin contacting relation with a lowermost portion of said filtercartridge, said sealing edge covering and sealing the bottom end of saidoutlet flow chamber.
 2. The filter housing of claim 1, said filtercartridge being a plurality of disc-dam units in a stacked arrangementto define said filter cartridge having a vertically extendinglongitudinal axis extending from the top of said housing to a lowerportion of said housing, each said disc-dam unit being of a generallycircular-shaped disc having an outer terminating edge with a cut-outcord segment, the disc-dam unit comprising a base portion having aplanar under surface and an upper surface with a first dam of serpentineconfiguration having a first end and a second end, said dam extendingupwards from said upper surface and terminating in a dam top, said firstend and said second end defining said cord segment therebetween, saidfirst dam dividing said base into upstream and downstream sides, saidupstream side being along an outer periphery of said base and saiddownstream side being along an inner periphery of said base, said cordsegment having a second dam connecting said first end and said secondend, said second dam having a height less than the height of said firstdam, each of said discs having a plurality of openings in said upstreamside in flow communication with an adjacent lower disc-dam unit, saidcut-outs being aligned to form said outlet flow chamber in flowcommunication with said housing outlet.
 3. The filter housing of claim2, each of said disc-dam units having a diameter of about ⅛″ less thanthe inside diameter of said filter housing.
 4. The filter housing ofclaim 3 wherein said means to receive disc-dam units includes aplurality of vertically extending lobes extending continuously along theinner surfaces of said upper section and said lower section, each dischaving notches in mating relation with said lobes.
 5. The filter housingof claim 3 wherein at least one of said disc-dam units includes a secondcut-out therein, said disc-dam unit including said second cut-out beingpositioned adjacent a top of said upper section.
 6. The filter housingof claim 3 wherein said second dam height is approximately one-half theheight of said first dam height.
 7. The filter housing of claim 3, eachdisc-dam unit having a centrally disposed opening with a verticallyextending pipe received through said centrally disposed opening, saidvertically-extending pipe having a closed bottom.
 8. The filter housingof claim 3, said upstream openings being disposed at curved portionswithin said serpentine configuration.
 9. The filter housing of claim 3,each said disc-dam unit terminating edge being adjacent an inner surfaceof one of said upper section or said lower section.
 10. The filterhousing of claim 2, said lower section having said inwardly extendingsealing edge positioned for alignment with said disc-dam unit cut-outs,said sealing edge being in contacting relation with a lowermost disc-damunit, said sealing edge covering said cut-out of said lowermost disc-damunit.
 11. The filter housing of claim 1 including at least one middlesection housing, said middle section housing mounted between said uppersection and said lower section, said middle section having means toreceive said filter cartridge being comprised of a plurality of disc-damunits therein.
 12. The filter housing of claim 1, said rings being ofpreselected size and thickness to receive waste water discharge outletsof a plurality of various diameters.